Hotel Delmonte

Mountain Partners in Community Development hired Mills Group to survey the Hotel Delmonte on Railroad Avenue in Elkins, West Virginia in order to provide a concept design for the adaptive reuse of the structure. Built in 1899, and modified in 1906, the Delmonte was central to the Elkins railroad industry.

When Mountain Partners purchased the building in 1998, it had suffered from years of neglect, making it unsafe and at risk for major deterioration. The building assessment and redevelopment concept plan utilized the first floor of the building as a restaurant and the upper levels as office space.

Executive Director Karen Jacobson stated, "It is great to work with a firm that can get things done on time and on budget. Michael Mills has a tremendous amount of experience and insight which enables him to think outside the box. The combination of being detail oriented and responsive made Mills Group stand out as a firm."

Retaining the Delmonte's historic integrity was a key motivator in this design. The sensitive use of space and architectural elements such as door hardware, wood windows, and moldings maintained its sense of place in history while adapting it to a modern use.

Mills Group later executed construction documents for the building's current owner, the Randolph County Housing Authority. The scope involved complete exterior restoration, including masonry, wood windows, exterior doors, millwork, and ADA access.